Effect+on+Biodiversity

==  How is Global Warming effecting Biodiversity ? The Arctic's temperature has decreased 10 degrees in the past 62 years due to Global Warming. It is warming 2-2.5 times faster than the normal average. ==

__The Arctic__

 * Polar Bears
 * Due to the decline in sea ice, there is also a decline in the ringed seal, which is major prey for the polar bear.
 * The polar bears use the sea ice as a platform for hunting food (seal), so the sea ice is crucial for their survival.
 * Not only has the sea ice decreased the number of seals, but it has also increased the amount of time and energy they need for hunting. By spending more time hunting, their energy for reproduction decreases.
 * Another issue caused by the melting ice platforms, is that now the polar bears have to swim farther to get back to land.
 * According to the U.S. Geological Service, without sea-ice, the current population of 22,000 would decrease by 2/3rds in 2025

==   ==

__**Ocean Animals**__

 * Sea Turtles
 * The climate change is disrupting the reproduction of the sea turtles.
 * Due to the rising seal level, the amount of nesting beach areas have decreased.
 * The rise in temperature will be too high for incubation.
 * The temperature of the incubation determines the sex of the egg; therefore there have been more female sea turtles.
 * Sea turtles eat sea grass beds, but the beds are declining.
 * Atlantic Cod
 * This fish needs a specific temperature in order to reproduce and grow.
 * Therefore the climate change is effecting their ability to produce correctly.
 * American Lobster
 * The american lobster are cold-blooded so their body temperatures are determined by the temperature of the water they live in
 * If the temperature increases, then the energy for feeding, growth, energy storage, immune response, and reproduction decreases.



__Antarctica__

 * Plants
 * Two flowering plant species that usually grow on the Peninsula have been spreading due to the increase of rainfall during the summer. Instead of snowing on the Peninsula, it has been raining heavily.
 * Also, the melting ice makes land available for the plant.
 * Penguins
 * Adelie Penguins
 * These penguins have been suffering for the last 20 years because of the decline of the Antarctic Peninsula
 * Chinstrap penguins are taking over the adelie penguins' territory
 * Adelie penguins need pack ice and krill for survival but those are both declining
 * The temperature is rising in the region
 * While the adelie penguins are declining, the chinstrap penguins can live off of a variety of food so they can survive in the area
 * Gentoo Penguins
 * Like the chinstrap penguins, these penguins are now nesting on the Peninsula
 * Krill
 * These are dramatically declining due to decline in sea ice.
 * The population has dropped about 80% since the 1970s
 * They are food for the penguins, so this is causing a decline of the penguin populations